Chapter 119 – Unbending Flower (9)
“Are you seriously causing a scene just because someone said that?!”
“Don’t worry… can’t you see how weak they’ve become that doing so is even possible?”
Lee Jong-pil grimaced as he distanced the phone from his ear, irritated by the other party’s flustered reaction.
‘If the president of a nation is this feeble, then…’
The other party was none other than the president who had just sent a recommendation to Takilas in real-time. Although they were from the same faction and skillfully crafted a pleasant image, the level of weakness displayed was more unleader-like than anyone could imagine.
“This doesn’t look good. Some are accusing us of betrayal, likening it to a rat abandoning a sinking ship.”
“That’s only natural. It’s merely because they were strong enough that we’ve had no problem until now; in today’s age, uncontrollable power is nothing but a disaster.”
Lee Jong-pil snorted, declaring with conviction.
As they planned to completely overhaul their strategy, Takilas was a thorn in their side, threatening their ambition to engulf the whole country.
In that weakened state, they believed there was no reason to leave any buds behind.
“Is that Adele really going to make a move?”
“He’s not worried. He plans to wipe them out in one go.”
“Oh, come on.”
He chuckled at the words of his son, Lee Soo-chan, who was beside him. In reality, it didn’t matter how much the president or public debated about Takilas; she would soon vanish from this world, regardless.
“What do you think? Do those ‘new weapons’ seem reliable to you?”
“That B-rank piece of junk they claimed was ‘incomplete’ turned Aria into dog meat. That’s more than enough.”
Lee Soo-chan smirked, recalling the memory. Based on that, he concluded there was a fair chance of success.
“We need to find Takilas.”
But they weren’t the only ones looking for Takilas.
“Aren’t you being too hasty? We need to stabilize the internal situation here.”
“The reason we came here secretly, without informing the Korean government, is due to other matters at hand, Director!”
Meeting them in his office on the upper level late at night, Lee Min-hyung encountered the Underground Deputy, who was notably a white man dressed in a suit.
“What Frontier is, what movements are taking place in the current Korean political arena, and who these One Road scoundrels are! I know they’ve deeply involved the Chinese Communist Party behind it all! This isn’t just a simple matter; it’s a critical international issue!”
“Calm down, Ambassador.”
Understanding the plea that bordered pleading, Lee Min-hyung nodded tiredly. Still, the US Ambassador to South Korea wouldn’t back down.
‘Right. America must be anxious too, scared of losing in this power game. But isn’t it a bit late to worry now? They could have at least supported us when Jo Ui-seok was attacked.’
He had a rough idea why they were moving now.
They had relied on Takilas as a suppressor without expending their own energy, but now that suppressor was broken.
It was frustrating that they acted solely for their benefit, yet Lee Min-hyung didn’t reject them. After all, they were the only ones he could rely on for help, sooner or later.
“But what will you do after finding that girl? She has already suffered irreparable damage. Wouldn’t it be better for us to find another method instead?”
“…If that were possible, that would be best. But the situation isn’t so favorable. Rufus. Show it to them.”
With a deep sigh, the Ambassador commanded his aide to show something to Lee Min-hyung. It was a report marked “Top Secret.”
“If their ploy was merely to widen their influence in a free nation like Korea, we wouldn’t have reacted so sensitively. But since the last Dimension Gate that was opened in Seoul, they have crossed a line.”
“T-this is…”
As he examined the materials, his eyes widened. It was indeed “Top Secret,” and the Ambassador wasn’t speaking lightly.
“They have successfully researched a method to maximize the power of the Magical Girl. In the process, they utilized the power of the Monsters?!”
“The One Road’s Special Task Force is merely a distraction. They aim to cultivate the Biological Weapon Corps using the Magical Girls! Just think about it. An S-rank Magical Girl can demonstrate operational capabilities far beyond any elite unit. If they can be harnessed and trained militarily…”
The sensitive information uncovered by the US came as a shock, even enough to dramatically alter Lee Min-hyung’s indifferent reaction.
“So, what’s the plan? What do you intend to do after finding Takilas? What methods are available?”
“Since the Mamute incident in California, we’ve set up a dedicated department to investigate Takilas intensively, tracking her every move.”
When Lee Min-hyung asked in a trembling voice, the Ambassador responded with a serious expression, disallowing his aide from cutting in.
“The conclusion we reached is that Takilas knows much more than just her power. During every crisis, she has always been several steps ahead of her opponents, never losing her composure. If she could restore her power, she would become a strong suppressor.”
The Ambassador then handed over another document.
This one wasn’t a report but rather a dossier on a specific Magical Girl.
“Our magical girl Adele. Her existence is even classified, and her rank is unknown. Her inherent ability is healing.”
“Healing…”
“That ability might be enough to restore Takilas’s arm.”
Lee Min-hyung was left spellbound by the visual of a Magical Girl mending a severed leg.
It’s common knowledge that Magical Girls awaken with their own unique weapons and powers, but witnessing the direction of that power being healing was a first for him.
‘If she really can do this, maybe Takilas could be restored.’
He kept his mouth shut, engulfed in contemplation. It was a proposal with no reason to refuse, yet something weighed on his mind.
‘Would Takilas accept this?’
He vividly remembered the moment he had spoken with Takilas while she lay there.
At that time, she had expressed her will. No matter what happened, it was them who had to fight and survive in this world, and he couldn’t shake those words from his mind.
“What if she rejects the offer?”
“W-what do you mean?! A little girl who thrived on her own ego wouldn’t be able to handle this kind of weakness!”
The Ambassador jumped up, dismissing the question vehemently. Watching him, Lee Min-hyung couldn’t help but internally scoff. Regardless of how much they analyzed and researched, they ultimately failed to see the true essence of Takilas, who had the demeanor of a self-absorbed deity.
‘She’s not just a kid. She’s far more meticulous, terrifying, and unfathomable than anyone can imagine.’
He knew, having talked with her and laid his feelings bare.
However, he hadn’t outright rejected the proposal.
“Let’s see if we can find her. For now.”
“Good. With our cooperation, we should find her soon.”
He shook hands with the delighted Ambassador. It wasn’t that he had agreed to a proposal he was sure Takilas would refuse for any particular reason; instead, he was merely planning to inform her of what the other party was up to.
*
“Are you really confident, Mei? Your body just recovered.”
“Shut up! I’m totally fine!”
Inside the laboratory, she rose from her seat and yanked out the needle embedded in her arm, grinding her teeth in irritation.
At the same time, she transformed. Her form remained the same, but her glowing eyes seemed dulled. Moreover, a clearly engraved symbol on her lower abdomen was glowing hot beneath her armor.
“Where is Aria now?”
“Stop babbling. Your task isn’t to kill Aria but to take out Takilas.”
With her tonfa in hand, Mei was fuming, prompting a sigh from Adele, who stood beside her.
After being wrecked in a single blow by the battered Aria, the Magical Girl Mei had endured the experiments solely driven by a desire to avenge Aria since that moment.
“You know, right? Takilas is currently weakened to A-rank level. Do not, under any circumstances, make any noise about being you or being connected to us; just kill her and return.”
“Tch…”
She grumbled but had no choice but to follow orders.
Soon, another Magical Girl donned in a separate black suit soared into the dark night sky.
She already knew Takilas’s location; she’d been appearing around civilian areas more frequently lately.
“Minimize civilian casualties. End it in one strike.”
The upper brass had ordered a no-questions-asked kill strike. Of course, even without such an order, Mei had every intention of doing just that.
‘Die already!!’
[4th Awakening · 4th Armament Rampage]
She had forcibly pushed her limits through experimentation, triggering a transformation in her two tonfa into sharp twin swords.
With that, Mei plunged straight for Takilas, who was casually enjoying a hot dog from a street vendor, right in the midst of the bustling crowd.
“…So, I really hit her?”
However, just as she smirked, Takilas’s red eyes shot upward, wide with surprise.
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